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The council area of Port Stephens stretches from Seaham, west of the Pacific Highway to Fingal Bay at the tip of the Tomaree Peninsula and has about 65,000 inhabitants. Major centres are Raymond Terrace (with the Town Hall) and * Nelson Bay - a town popular for holiday makers.
The urban area at the eastern end of the Tomaree Peninsula comprises suburbs like Fingal Bay, Shoal Bay, Nelson Bay, Salamander Bay (with a fair sized shopping mall) Soldiers Point, Corlette, Anna Bay, Boat Harbour, One Mile Beach and Bobs Farm.

The area is very popular for its breathtaking coastal scenery, protected waters at the bay, good fishing, and the opportunity to watch whales during the migration season (May - November) and the resident dolphins.
View from the popular look out point on Gan Gan Hill.

One of the suburbs of Port Stephens is Williamtown, an RAAF base, which also has a civil airport "Newcastle Airport" with frequent links to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and other regional airports in Australia.

Stockton Sand Dunes. Miles of sand which is easy to explore on foot but watch out for 4x4s racing around some areas. This is where Mad Max and parts of that ubiquitous Aussie anthem 'Down Under' were filmed. edit

One Mile Beach. Named after the town One Mile rather than the other way around, is a stunning place to visit whether you surf or not. Atmospheric views down the peninsular and dramatic swells abound here. There's a car park just off the beach and a small store that sells refreshments.edit

Tomaree. The south head of the Port Stephens bay offers a steep bushwalk on a paved track and metalic steps that lead to the top of Tomaree Hill. The top of the hill has breathtaking views of the Bay and nearby ocean islands. Another walk leads to the sites of WW2 artillery guns that were never fired at an enemy.edit

Whale watching cruises leave from Nelson Bay and are well worth it in the seasons that humpbacks pass by (May to November). You may also see dolphins and penguins. There is a variety of vessels and price ranges to choose from at the marina.

Moonshadow Cruises, Shop 3, 35 Stockon Street, Nelson Bay, ☎(0)2 4984 9388, [1]. Specialises in dolphin and whale watching. The whale watching cruise runs at 10:00 and 13:30 for 2.5 hours. And if you don't get to see whales, they offer a second whale-watching trip for free within the following 6 months.$60. edit

Imagine Cruises, Nelson Bay, ☎(0)2 4984 9000, [2]. The whale watching cruise operates at 10:30 and 14:00 and lasts for 3 to 3.5 hours. If no whales are sighted they offer a second free trip.$60. edit

Nelson Bay has some of the best shore dives in NSW and attracts scuba divers keen to photograph the varied macro sea life at the sites of Fly Point and Halifax. The following dive shops offer gear rental, tank refill, and diving courses.

Samurai Beach Bungalows - Port Stephens YHA, Cnr Frost Rd and Robert Connell Close Anna Bay NSW 2316, ☎(61) 2 4982 1921, [6]. checkin: 1pm; checkout: 10am. A beautiful little hostel with a pool, bikes, unique bush kitchen and wifi available. Has the feeling of being in asia with lovely statues scattered around the garden. They have a few different room styles from dorm rooms to privates with both shared or private bathroom. Located about 5km out from Nelson bay in a peaceful garden setting.$30 to $170. edit